Here’s how stress can affect your tresses.
After 60 days in lockdown, it’s probably safe to say you could use a hair makeover. Either your roots are showing, you badly need a haircut, or you desperately need someone to fix what you did to your bangs in a moment of boredom.
But terrible home haircuts and botched DIY dye jobs aside, there’s one other thing your locks might go through while on lockdown: They may start to fall out from stress.
Now before you lose sleep—or any more hair—worrying about it, know that, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), it’s normal to shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. But if you notice that you’re shedding more than usual, it could be due to stress.
Three Types of Hair Loss
The Mayo Clinic states that stress and hair loss can be related and that there are three types of hair loss caused by high-stress levels:
Telogen effluvium
This is when extreme stress causes your hair follicles to go from their active growth phase to their resting or inactive phase, and eventually fall out. The hair doesn’t shed immediately though; there’s usually a delay of a few months between the stressful event and hair loss.
The AAD says that stressors may include childbirth, experiencing a lot of stress, high fever, recovering from an illness, among a few others.
Trichotillomania
This is a condition where you experience an “irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body. Hair pulling can be a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, tension, loneliness, boredom, or frustration.”
These emotions are common during this time, so be mindful what you do when you’re stressing out.
Alopecia areata
This type of hair loss is the result of the immune system overreacting, causing it to start attacking the hair follicles. “A variety of factors are thought to cause alopecia areata, possibly including severe stress.”
The good news is, hair loss caused by stress isn’t permanent. “If you get your stress under control, your hair might grow back,” notes the Mayo Clinic.
If, however, the stressor remains, you could suffer prolonged hair shedding. “People who are constantly under a lot of stress can have long-term excessive hair shedding,” warns the AAD.
What You Can Do
If the current state of the world is causing you anxiety, find ways to manage your stress: You can limit your screen time and choose the content you consume online, meditate, or start a gratefulness journal, for example.
And if you are experiencing significant hair loss, consult with a dermatologist. Dr Maximin Navarro, Fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society and co-founder of Bella Pelle Philippines, does by-appointment teleconsultations.
There are also cosmeceutical products and diet supplements available that can help address the issue. Here are a few of Navarro’s recommendations:
Anti-Hair Loss Products
Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements, P3,000
According to the brand’s official website, it’s clinically proven to promote hair growth, thanks to the hair-nourishing components that form its key ingredients, namely iron, biotin, niacin, zinc, and vitamin C, and their exclusive AminoMar complex, which contains shark cartilage and mollusk powder, fish oil, and silica.
It’s highly recommended by doctors and salon experts alike, and is a favorite among celebs like Hailey Bieber and Karlie Kloss, who swear by the supplements, reports byrdie.com.
Bosley BOSRevive Nourishing Shampoo, P1,200-P2,500
Bosley BOSRevive Volumizing Conditioner, ₱1,300.00 – ₱2,900.00
This professional strength nourishing shampoo is formulated for visibly thinning hair and has a variant for non-color treated hair and for color-treated hair, so you can choose the right one for you.
According to Bosley’s official website, it removes debris and build-up to support healthier hair and scalp and works to revive thinning hair thanks to its DHT-inhibitors.
Bosley BOSRevive Thickening Treatment, ₱1,850.00
DHT or Dihydrotestosterone is an androgen—a sex hormone present in both men and women—that contributes to the development of “male” sex characteristics, such as body hair, but can also lead to early and faster hair loss, according to Healthline.
Indeed, Medical News Today points out that DHT is linked to male-pattern hair loss and early hair loss in women.
Bosley Hair Follicle Energizer, P1,800
This serum especially targets areas of thinning and low-density hair. It nourishes hair follicles with “stimulating activators that help increase cellular energy and micro-circulation,” and repairs hair with its Pentapeptides, Apple Stem Cell Extracts, and Biotinyl-GHK.
As a bonus, it may also be used for thinning beards or eyebrows. The latter will be welcome news for women who have plucked or threaded their eyebrows into oblivion and are looking to encourage hair growth on their brows.
Supplements
There are also certain nutrients that can help address hair loss. Navarro says, “When you suffer hair loss conditions like telogen effluvium and alopecia areata, there’s an ongoing inflammation in the hair follicles and, studies have shown, deficiencies in zinc, vitamin D, and other phytonutrients and vitamins that can result in hair loss.
“So supplements like zinc, omega-3,-6 fatty acids, phytomultivitamins, and vitamin D—which all support hair growth and repair, posses anti-inflammatory effects, boost the immune system, and strengthen and condition the hair—may actually help.”
Before you start taking any nutritional supplement, be sure to consult with a health practitioner first.
Zinc
According to Healthline, “Zinc plays an important role in hair tissue growth and repair. It also helps keep the oil glands around the follicles working properly.” In fact, studies have shown a correlation between zinc deficiency and hair loss.
A zinc supplement that’s easily absorbed and well-tolerated by the digestive system.
Vitamin D
Medical News Today notes that there’s evidence that vitamin-D deficiency leads to hair loss and other hair problems, and may also be linked to alopecia areata, “Vitamin D stimulates hair follicles to grow, and so when the body does not have enough, the hair may be affected.”
Metagenics D3 2000 Complex, P1,500
This supplement delivers 2,000 IU of vitamin D3, which is known to aid in normal neurological function and bone growth, as well as enhance immune function, support cardiovascular function, and play a role in insulin secretion, blood pressure regulation.
Omega Fatty Acids
“Essential fatty acids, especially omega-3s, play a key role in the health of your skin, hair, and nails,” according to WebMD. One study also suggests that omega fatty acids increase hair density and help prevent hair loss in women.
Metagenics OmegaGenics EPA-DHA 720, P1,600
Containing omega-3 fatty acids sustainably sourced from freshwater fish, this supplement supports cardiovascular, muskuloskeletal, and immune system health.
Multivitamins
Medical News Today recommends a well-balanced diet that contains all 13 essential vitamins
to support hair health. “Essential vitamins include vitamin A, C, D, E, and K, as well as the B-complex group. However, no evidence supports the idea of individual vitamins encouraging the hair to grow faster.
“That said, deficiencies in specific vitamins can lead to hair loss, so it is important to consume enough of each to reduce the chance of losing hair.”
Metagenics PhytoMulti is a proprietary blend of 13 concentrated extracts and phytonutrients with scientifically tested biological activity to support cellular health and overall wellness.
Curcumin
“Because of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of turmeric, it helps heal the body while at the same time boosting the immune system, thus promoting hair growth in patients experiencing hair loss,” explains Navarro.
“Additionally, since it is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, it can be used to treat male pattern baldness. 5-alpha reductase is an enzyme responsible for the miniaturization of hair follicles in male pattern baldness, so inhibition of this enzyme promotes hair growth.
“Turmeric and cucurmin are also activators of Vitamin D receptor genes in hair follicles. These genes help control the growth cycles of hair,” says Navarro.
Metagenics Inflavonoid Intensive Care, P2,600
It features CurQfen (curcumin and fenugreek) and XNT ProMatrix, which protects the body against oxidative stress and other external stressors, relieves body pains, and fights inflammation. It also contains Boswelia and ginger extracts that strengthens the immune system.
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